Dana White made a surprising comment about a former Contender Series fighter making big money and all signs pointed to it being Kevin Holland.
Just one problem: Holland says it isn’t him.
Following Tuesday’s Contender Series show, White spoke to the media and told reporters the opportunity to earn a UFC contract on the long-running program has been a win for the promotion and fighters. He specifically mentioned that one fighter, who had never even competed in a world title fight, had already made over
$11 million. White did not name the fighter.
“This show has paid fighters that have come off it, like, $225 million over the last 10 years and one of the guys that never fought for a world title, has made over $11 million dollars.
“So staying active and keeping yourself out there and in everybody’s face is not only good financially, but you have a very limited amount of time to make a lot of money in any sport. So staying active is the move. I love it.”
The MMA community immediately went to work trying to figure out who the mystery fighter is, a presumably narrow list given that the entry-level contract earned through Contender Series has been disclosed as $12,000 to show and $12,000 to win. It wasn’t long before Holland was picked out from the pack.
Holland has fought 29 times since joining the UFC in 2018, after competing on Contender Series but not initially receiving a contract. During his time in the promotion he has recorded 10 Fight Night bonuses (One Fight of the Night and nine Performance of the Night awards), each worth $50,000. He has also frequently taken bouts on short notice, which typically results in higher pay.
According to Holland’s last disclosed payday from UFC 311 in California in January 2025, he made $250,000 to show for a bout he lost to Reiner de Ridder.
Adding in potential sponsorship opportunities available to him as a UFC fighter, Holland seems to be the only person White could have been talking about, but Holland later made comments on social media denying he’s the fighter in question.
“That fighter’s not me,” Holland said. “I’m just now waking up. I’ll tell you all right now, that fighter’s not me. Don’t listen to that shit.”
He also responded to a graphic, writing, “Boss talking about someone else wish it was me.”
It’s entirely possible it’s Holland and he doesn’t want the public talking about his financials, or maybe White is simply mistaken in how he described the $11-million fighter (Sean O’Malley, Jamahal Hill, Jack Della Maddalena, and Carlos Ulberg have all come out of Contender Series to win UFC titles, but White claimed the fighter has never been in a title fight). For now, the mystery remains.
